“I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month.” Harlan Miller. “A little smile, a word of cheer, A bit of love from someone near, A little gift from one held dear, Best wishes for the coming year. These make a Merry Christmas!” John Greenleaf Whittier. “Christmas: the Son of God expressing the love of God to save us from the wrath of God so we could enjoy the presence of God.” John Piper. “The world can’t save itself. That’s the message of Christmas.” Timothy Keller. “Peace on earth will come to stay, when we live Christmas every day.” Helen Steiner Rice. “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” John Wesley.

Christmas is only days away and a new month and year will be forthcoming which will bring many new challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities. What you do in December will help define your new year. Make your transition from December into the new year as effective and enjoyable as possible.

Many people develop new year resolutions to exercise more and lose weight, maintain better family relations, go to church more, help people more, agree to do more in the community, travel more, plan a more healthy and cleansing diet to rid their bodies of toxic substances, smile more, and so on. Many of these resolutions will fall by the wayside after the first few days or weeks of the new year because of the repetition, time restraints or simply the lack of commitment and interest.

Do you make new year resolutions? And, do you keep any of those resolutions? All resolutions require effort and responsibility throughout the year. Make your resolutions based on your own interest and dedication, not because others have encouraged you to adopt their interests. If you are looking for something new, think about adopting a garden in the landscape or a plant in the home. Your greenscape can benefit from the same type of consideration that you give other traditional resolutions if you are really serious about sustainability, stewardship and environmental awareness.

Consider such activities as new plant purchases for either the indoors or outdoors, flushing or changing the soil media in existing containers (re-potting), root pruning, upsizing the plant into a larger container, adding beneficial microbes to the soil media, hand cleaning the leaves on potted plants where dust has collected, and so on.

The new year is a very appropriate time for an attractive plant gift but with it comes the realization of responsibility for care and maintenance. Get away from the irresponsible perception, “if it dies I’ll just buy another one.”

Maybe giving a plant for such an occasion will bring others to committing to new gardening resolutions for the new year. Welcome the new year with gifts of nature by helping your friends and family become more aware of plants and plant care.  A display of color represented in plants such as a white peace lily, white gardenia, calamondin orange, red hibiscus, pink crown of thorns, or yellow ixora will work wonders that you never thought possible. Or choose from a juniper bonsai, braided money tree, areca palm silk plant, ficus, rubber plant, dumb cane, dragon tree, corn plant, or a variety of other lovely house plants as your choices are unlimited.

Even though it is winter and cooler outside, these plant gifts make wonderful indoor gardens and arrangements which add a warm and comfortable feeling to an otherwise dreary time of year. From the emotionally high peaks of December to the lowly valleys of January, this is an awesome way to remind your loved ones how much you care by giving such a beautiful plant to start the new year.

Dedicated gardeners with indoor plants in poor potting soil should consider repotting the plant with fresh, healthy soil for themselves and for friends.  Choose the best potting available within your budget. Clean the existing container to remove any fertilizer, hard water deposits, and old soil. Obviously, larger plants are more difficult to repot. Make every effort to protect and not harm the plants, as well as maintaining such work posture to protect your body (esp. back) in the process. A newly repotted plant will exhibit better vigor and healthier appearance than before the process.

Check your plant and container for size proportion and potential root-bound conditions which will lead to slower growth and a less healthy plant. Upon inspection, if the plant is root-bound then the roots will be growing in circular pattern around in the inside of the container. If so, repotting is a must and the existing root pattern must be pruned away before placing in new media in a larger container.

Continue your daily reading the Book of Luke (24 chapters – each chapter corresponding to the date of the month) in the Bible to learn and understand who and why we celebrate Christmas. Christmas is about Jesus and His love, and in these chapters you will read an entire account of Jesus’ life.  Merry Christmas!

“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:9-12. “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body — whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free — and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.” 1 Corinthians 12:13-14. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.” Romans 12:15. “You thrill me, LORD, with all You have done for me! I sing for joy because of what You have done.” Psalm 92:4.